Reed holder



-March 18, 1952- v M, A 2,5s9,s21

' REED HOLDER Filed Aug. 12, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

on the line. 3-3 of Figure'z'.

Patented Mar. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES ATENT oF-FIcF;

2 Claims. (01. rape-165 The invention; ing'eneral; relates toa device for holding musical instrument accessories, and more particularly relates to an improved reed holder afiording longevity to the utilization'of, reeds for all types of wood-winds.

A primary object of the present invention is to'provide an improved reed holder which entirely obviatesthe warping of reeds and main tains the same in condition for immedate better playing qualities.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a device of the-aforementioned character which affords the retention of one ormore reeds in always sanitary condition as well. as free: from all: likelihood.- of damage thereto;

'A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved reed, holder of the indicated nature which is additionally characterized by its ability to retain a plurality of reeds in one structure,.all immediately accessible. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide an; improved reed holder of the aforementioned character which can conveniently be manufao.

tured in unitary or dual or tandem form for vary- Other objects of the invention, together with someof the advantageous features thereof, will appear from the following description of a prefer'redembodiment and one, modified embodiment Qijthe, inve tion which are; illustratedin theatco'mpanyingdrawings. It is to be understood that 11am n t. o be imi ed t heprec emb e shown, nor to the precise arrangement of the several parts thereof, as my invention, as defined in; the appended claims, can beembodiedin a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawings:

'Figure'l is 'a perspective'view of a.preferred mbod me o the n en -H,

Figure 2 is a-plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional end elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the invention, taken Figure 4 is a side elevational view of themeferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of 'a'modified embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6is=a longitudinal sectional view: taken on the line 6'6 of Fig. 1.

In its preferred form, the improved reed holder said resilient memberandsaidaweb-ons each of said sections. v I

As illustratedparticularly in Figures-1 to dine. elusive of the accompanying drawings, I provide a substantially planarbase l l which is1preferably' fabricated from a suitable plastic material-,; such as polystyreneor from either a urea .or phenolic condensataor which can-be fabricated from'any suitable hard rubber or other suitable material,' In the exemplifieation of the. inventionvshown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, Ipreferably divide; the base ll into four sectionsby providing ar-plate or web member l2 which piercesthe base at its. transverse center and. which; is; co-extensWe. with the length ofxthe: base. 30. afiordone, element of the reed-retaining mean'sgofjthe device; the Web I p oj cti n rmally ir m the as on ppos t Sides. ther of: as. clea lywn..;F .e2u 3 1 f the draw s. .Thcrezarethu m'o idedtour separate. sections l6,,l 1, I58 and It in the base-ll on whichx re u np eda spa n r l a plurality-of tubular posts 20 which preferably-are molded integrally with base ll orwhich maybe mounted uprightly on the base' by inserting the same into suitable perforations formed in the base. The, posts 26 serve as pivots for four re silient members 21 disposed on the posts 20 in the four sections ofthe base andto preventfdislodgment of the r'esilientme'mbers from the posts I convenientlypress-fitv escu'tcheon pins 25 o the tops; of the posts 2 9. The resilient members 2! preferably are fabricated from phosphor bronze but'may be made from nickel-s'ilve'rspring stock, if desired. v a

In accordance with my invention, 'each'of the resilient members 2t preferably is, so formed as to 'i provide. thereon two re'ed-eng faging areas 22 and 2 3 fol-the leds "2.4 an intermediate finger portion, Zlithat. conveniently isformed'to a concave surface. Ihe 'rfeediengagingareas 22 and 23v of the" resilient members;2I' 'engage"the reeds, when mounted inth'e holdergadjacenttheir tips as, well as, adj acenfi, their centers on' the s es thereofnear'est theother ends of the reeds. T6 mount the 'reedsonthe' holder, itis only neces- 'sary to press the fingerson -the fingerportior'rs of the 'resili'ent members 21 j which, -eaese the reed-engaging areas 22 and 23 "of-the resilientmembers tob'e urged away from the-web= I ey-then slip the reeds infbetw'een the resilient 1 members 2'! and the web IZandreIease the'fingers-"which, by virtue of the spring action of the members 2 I, causes the-reed-cngaging members tospring back against the reeds and engage the'sam'e at the areas indicated. The-two point engagement of each of the reeds by the resilient members'zl obviates 'warpageof the reeds-but the applied for'ce' ofthe resilient members 2-1 winner dent or otherwise 'damage th'e reeds. I

' "Whiletheshowingsof Figures 1'- toe inclusive depict a preferred embodiment of the invention the holder.

,the device can be constructed so as to retain any desired number of reeds. For example, and

as shown in the modified embodiment of the invention depicted in Figure of the annexed drawings, the reed holder of my present invention can comprise a base III with an integral plate or web I I2 projecting from but one side thereof. In this modification, the base III is-thus divided into but two sections H6 and Ill, and on each section a similar resilientmember I2 I is pivotally mounted by means of tubular posts I20 which may be molded directly with the base I I I or which can be inserted into perforations formed inthe base. Suitable escutcheon pins I25 are press! fitted into the'tops of the posts I29 to holdthe resilient members I2I against dislodgement. As in the case of the exemplification of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, each of the resilient members I2I of the modification of Figure 5 is so formed as to provide thereon'two reed-engaging areas I22 and I23 which yieldingly I but firmly hold a reed I24 against the web II2 to maintain the reed always in a non-warped or fiat condition and free from all likelihood of damage so as to present the reed always immediately available with better playing qualities.

In accordance with my invention, the resilient members 2| and I2I of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings are preferably formed with elongated, concave finger portions 26 and I26, respectively. By exerting pressure of the fingers at the portions 26 and I23 of these resilient members, the reed-engaging areas thereof are urged away from the reeds to permit withdrawal thereof from the holder. It is obvious that release of the fingers or pressure from the finger portions of the resilient members will cause the reed-engaging areas of such members to spring back to their initial positions adjacent to the webs I2 and I I2 of the embodiments with the reeds intermediate the resilient members and the webs. By'holding the holders of my invention in a horizontal position, it is clear that one or more reeds may readily be placed or mounted on the holder for retention by the resilient members thereof, and just as readily withdrawn therefrom.

While not shown. in the annexed drawings, a suitable cover may conveniently be provided for the holder and wedge-fitted or otherwise fastened to the plate I2 or H2 or, for that matter, to the base II or III of the embodiments illustrated, as the case may be. The cover aifords the maintenance of the reeds at a constant humidity in all instances or situations, particularly since the reeds are periodically withdrawn from the holder and re-moistened for use and then replaced in Maintenance of the reeds at conto hold the reeds against the web of the holders in flattened positions and in such areas and manner that they cannot possibly become warped. Of course, any suitable form of resilient members 2I and I2I can be pivotally mounted on the bases of my improved holder as long as there are provided thereon reed-engaging areas at least at two points so that the reeds preferably will be gripped or engaged at their tips as well as adjacent to their centers to effect the object above specified. The particular shape of the resilient members 2Iand 12! as shown in the annexed drawings has been found most effective in accomplishing the purpose of preventing warpage and therefore has been stated herein to be the preferable embodiment of such members.

It is to be understood that the appended claims are to be accorded a range of equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over the prior art.

I claim:

1. A reed holder comprising a base, and reedretaining means on said base for releasably holding a plurality of reeds in non-warping positions thereon, said means consisting of a plate extending normally from said base and dividing the same into a plurality of sections; said plate presenting a planar face to at least two sections, a

-* pair of aligned tubular postsprojecting normally stant humidity minimizes the possibility of warping of the reeds. The cover likewise insures against likelihood of damage to the reeds by inadvertent contact therewith or from deterioration by exposure to the air.

Since Ihave provided for engagement of each of the reeds retained in the holder of my invention at the tips thereof as well as adjacent to their centers, there is no likelihood that any of the reeds can become warped as is normally the case when moistened reeds are placed or mounted in prior types of reed holders. The resiliency of the metal mem e s 2! an IZI is such as firmly from said base in each of said sections and ar- -ranged in spaced relationship with respect to one another as well as with respect to the planar faces of said plate, a resilient member mounted on the pair of aligned tubular posts in each section; each of said resilient members consisting of an inwardly curved central portion for engagement by a finger, inwardly and outwardly projecting end portions, and a pair of ears positioned at each end of said central curved portion overlying said posts, and escutcheon pins piercing said ears and fitted into said tubular posts to hold said resilient members on said post; the free end of said projecting end portions normally terminating inthe plane of the planar face of said plate, pressure applied at the curved central portion of each of said members causing said end projecting portions to be urged away from said plate while release of pressure on said curved portions causing said end projecting portions to be urged toward said plate whereby at least one reed can be releasably retained in a non-warping position on said base between said plate and said end projecting portions of each resilient member in each of said sections. 2. A reed holder as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate projects from opposite sides of said base normally thereto to increase the number-of sections and the reed-retaining capacity of the holder.

MARVIN STANLEY KORSHAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain 

